This layout loosely represents 62 miles of the original Santa Fe Mainline which
travels over Raton Pass between Raton, NM to Trinidad, CO. I did not want to
model the original lines 3.5% grades, so I’ve limited mine to 2.2%. To gain the
necessary height between decks I created a loop which is a reverse replica of
Santa Fe’s Tehachapi Loop, thus the fictitious name Ratachapi Sub for the
layout.

The layout has 3 levels ranging from 28” to 64”, a minimum radius of 32”, staging to
represent Barstow, CA, The Texas Sub, Denver, CO and Chicago, IL. and
interchanges with the C & S and the C & W. In order to allow the
movement of trains between all 3 levels there is an 8 level Helix with layout
connections at levels, 1, 4, 6, 7 and 8.

I have included many fictitious industries to provide more switching
opportunities than were originally available on this line. For trains, I’ve
included some of Santa Fe’s famous Passenger trains, Ice Reefer trains, TOFC
trains and Coal trains. There are 2 mainline switching jobs that serve
industries at Jansen, CO, Starkville, CO and Morley, CO plus lots of local
switching at Trinidad and Raton.

Future plans are to add a Dispatcher for a DTC style operation.

The Prototype

• Style:
• Prototype:
• Location:
• Era:
• Interchange:

Prototype
Santa Fe
Raton Pass – 62 Miles btwn Raton, NM and Trinidad, CO
1970
C&S and C&W

The Layout

• Location:
• Scale:
• Size:
• Control:
• Accessibility:
• Mainline Length:
• Min Radius
• Yards:
• Passing Sidings:
• Scenery Complete:
• Carspots:
• Motive Power:
• Rolling Stock:
• Track Construction:

Surrey
HO
600 sqft over 3 rooms
Digitrax DCC with Duplex Radio and WiFi
Basement Stairs – no Wheelchair access
250 ft
32″
Raton and Trinidad
6
5%
60
First and Second Generation Diesel
Freight 270, Passenger 30
Staging Code 100 – Balance Code 83

Operations

• Clock Speed:
• Session Length:
• Crew Size:
• Dispatching:
• Car Forwarding:
• Communication:
• Jobs:
• Train Lengths:
• Session Style

2:1
3 hours
6
None, easy ops at this time
4 position car cards
Verbal
Yard master (2), yard assistant (1), road crew (3)
10 to 15 cars
Casual